News

Google's Android Security chief Adrian Ludwig spoke at the Virus Bulletin conference in Berlin a few days ago and broke Google's silence on the topic of malware on Android. Google had been mum on that topic as it didn't have the data to back up its claims of security.

Ludwig offered statistics direct from Google stating that less than .001% of surveyed app installations resulted in harmful outcomes, citing Googles multiple layers of protection that malware passes through to get to the payload zone. In fact, some of the biggest malware stories to hit over the past few years actually only affected one in a million app installs, meaning the effect has been completely overblown thanks to the lack of actual data from Google.

As a result, Google will share its data with security researchers so a more accurate picture can be painted.

This is all thanks to Verify Apps which was introduced in 4.2 and moved to Play Services meaning 95% of all devices are reporting to these statistics.

Ludwig compared Google's approach to malware protection to the Center for Disease Control: "The CDC knows that it’s not realistic to try to eradicate all disease. Rather, it monitors disease with scientific rigor, providing preventative guidance and effective responses to harmful outbreaks."

Get a full view of their Play acquisition funnel in “one easy to understand report.” This report will highlight data like Google Play traffic sources, views on Google Play, installs and information about new users. This referral flow should make it a lot easier for developers and marketers to figure out which blog posts, news articles or marketing campaigns are most effective in driving users to their apps and bring the highest quality traffic.

The Play Developer Console itself, however, is also getting a bit of an update. It’ll now show information about how often users use an app, for how long and what they are doing inside of it (assuming they have Google Analytics set up in their app).

Hardware

The ‘Smith’ project: high-end "3-D" device. The screen itself is not 3D but the device has four cameras, one at each corner of the device that tracks eye and head motions in order to move the interface around to ‘give the impression’ of 3D.

‘Project B’ is a ‘cheap’ phone with basic software that is similar to FireOS. Rumor has it Amazon wants to release this year.

LG and Samsung are in hot pursuit of curved screen glory. LG announced that it will launch a phone with curved screen in November called the G Flex. But it does seem to curve in much the same way that the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus curve.

But Samsung is getting all curvy too, supposedly, with EV Leaks leaking a pic of the supposed Samsung Galaxy Round. This time curving along the vertical axis! We could hear more from Samsung about this phone as soon as this week, according to a press report out of Asia.

Fingerprint scanner will actually sit between the Max’s SIM card slot and the smartphone’s camera, according to leaked pictures, which would make it accessible to fingers resting on the back of the device instead of on the front.

Group president Michael Barrett tells USA Today that Android smartphones with FIDO-based fingerprint readers should be available in about six months, or early 2014. While the Alliance isn't saying which companies are launching those devices, we'd expect FIDO members like Lenovo and LG to embrace the technology first. As for other platforms? Barrett believes that Apple's Touch ID could work with FIDO, but we wouldn't count on it when Apple is still hesitant to embrace third-party developers.

The service manual for the next Nexus phone hit the internet. The supposed manual sheds some light on the specs:

Android Police was asked to remove the photos from the leak by LG, so if there was any doubt up until no that this might be legit, there you go.

We do hear that there might be 16GB and 32GB variants. An LTE radio (but likely not one that supports Verizon). A 2300mAh battery, and *some* sources are citing multiple battery sku's for the different storage capacity options (2300mAh 16GB, 3000mAh 32GB)… but I'll believe that when I see it.

Glass News

New Glass update brings Transit directions to city folk, hyperlink support in notifications, and avatars for people you are messaging or commenting from Glass. Pretty minor stuff.

And if you have been developing Glassware and want it included in MyGlass, the review process is now open to everyone with Glass. New Glassware is added by SportsYapper, Fancy, Mashable, KitchMe and Thuuz.

Email

47:10

Hey AAA, I was one of several that went to the Google Glass in Durham on Saturday. It was a awesome experience. Even tho the line was long It moved quickly. There were 4 or 5 people at check in and they were all using Chrome Pixels. I was then moved to another line to wait my turn. That only lasted about 2 mins. I then was in a group of about 7 people. Two Googler's from New York were explaining how the device worked. One Googler was wearing the device and the other was hold a Nexus 10 so we
could see what the Glass was doing.

Then came my turn to try the bad boys. The hole time I was walking up to put them on I kept replaying the moment when Ron put them on for the first time. It was great, they were so light and I
first put them on I didn't even see the display. I actually had to look up to see it. I was able to get them to take a picture and give me direction. It was pretty noisy in their so it had a hard time hearing me. I didn't get to spend to much time with them but I loved it. Any one who has a chance to try them should. Here are some pics I took. Feel free to share them if you want.

Apps

Email

53:30

I was wondering what was the best way to send your location to a boss or a co-worker? This would have come in handy when my commuter train had to detour to stop I don’t normally use and I
wanted to call to have a work shuttle pick me up. I didn't know the physical address of the train station.
Thanks, and keep up the great shows,
OC Alexander